Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Brush Up on Your Notary Cyber-Security Hygiene
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- Published: August 31, 2026
Could your notary practice be a target for cybercriminals? If you keep customer records — on paper or electronically — the answer is yes, and it's worth a few minutes to make sure your habits hold up.
How Common Is Cybercrime in the U.S.?
Good advice is worth sharing, and these days some of the most relevant advice addresses ways to keep our devices and data safe from cyber hackers.
As many as 73% of adults in the United States alone have been victimized by an online scam or attack? That’s according to a nationwide, 2025 survey of nearly 9,500 U.S. adults.
America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) grapples with cybercrime daily. The FBI owns this chore because cybercrime targeting the United States’ critical infrastructure—such as power grids, financial systems, transportation networks and more—is a major national security risk.
In fact, by the FBI’s count cyberattacks against Americans occur at a rate of close to 2,765 per day… that’s roughly one attack every 31 seconds.
How Does Cybercrime Affect Notaries?
It’s simple… notaries—especially those with a primary or secondary career of notarizing for the general public—create and retain journal records with just the sort of personal customer information that data criminals covet.
Paper Journals vs. Electronic and Remote Online Notarization
While a bound paper record book or journal is safe from cyber criminals and is still the format chosen by most notaries, plenty of notaries also notarize using electronic or remote online notarization technologies. Those technologies typically include a built-in, record book (journaling) feature.
Electronic and remote notarization platforms leverage multiple tools to keep technology-based notarizations safe and secure, including cryptographic integrity checks, encrypted identity verification, secure session recording, state-confirmed compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and extensive security monitoring.
Notary Cyber-Security Checklist
Here’s what you can do to ensure your notary cyber-security hygiene is on-point and protecting your customers’ sensitive information. Some of these tips may sound obvious, but they are so essential they have to be mentioned:
∎ Use strong passwords
∎ Encrypt sensitive documents and information
∎ Use two-factor authentication (choose technologies that include it)
∎ Keep systems up-to-date
∎ Use anti-virus software
∎ Don’t “share” your device with another person
∎ Don’t open emails that appear obviously junky, spammy or phishy
∎ Don’t connect to public wi-fi; instead try a mobile hotspot from your cell phone, a dedicated mobile hotspot device or a travel router.
If you haven’t done so lately, be sure to brush up on your notary cyber-security hygiene!
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